Lettuce Wrap Turkey Burger w/pan-seared pork belly (Gluten-free, Paleo, SCD, anti-candida, nut-free, dairy-free (all animals), soy-free)

This is one to NOM home about! Seriously delicious!!

I had a mega craving lately for bacon BUT because I’m also healing my husband’s GAPS and following a very specific Anti-Candida type regimen to help with resetting his body as a whole bacon is on the no-no list. I’m not a big pork person because I believe pork doesn’t really have any nutritional benefit plain and simple. However, I do like the idea of enjoying eating some pork a few times a year because quite frankly it’s freakin’ delicious!

With all that said we haven’t really eaten much of any pork for a long time-especially bacon. In fact, it’s cured which really isn’t great for the gut or the colon. Do some research on colon cancer and you’ll find a long list of ‘fermented foods’ as well as ‘cured-meats’ as a big detriment to colon health. Another added negative bonus to the beloved bacon is that it’s also made with sugar and additives. If you’re fighting overgrowth of candida in your body or are on the SCD diet, you need to avoid cured/sugar/additive foods like bacon. However, all is not lost!

I have found a way to make a type of ‘bacon’ that not only compares to bacon it tops it in my book! When pan-seared it’s absolutely delicious! Of course I have a few tricks up my sleeve to give it that sweet delectable flavor that makes bacon so addicting. Here’s some tips for making your pan-seared pork belly:

First, make sure you get pork belly from your natural foods market or butcher. Ask them to cut the pork belly into strips (that resemble a slightly thicker bacon).

Second, when pan-searing get your cast iron pan to a nice medium-high temperature. Pan sear the ‘bacon’ on one side, flip and then add: coconut aminos (this will give it that slightly sweet flavor that compares to the sugar added to bacon during the curing process) and a dash of mineral salt. Cook for about 2 minutes each side. The mineral salt will give the pork belly that salty flavor.

That’s it. I like to add the salt after I add the coconut aminos and once I flip the ‘bacon’ again I’ll sprinkle a little bit more salt on the other side. The only salt I really use is Himalayan salt, it’s got that perfect salty flavor so I don’t have to add too much salt. (plus its loaded with minerals).

Alright, now lets take a look at the recipe!

Ingredients for Turkey Patties: (makes 6 medium turkey patties)

1 lb. lean ground turkey meat (pasture-raised white turkey meat)
1 egg (optional)
1/2 minced serrano pepper (adds a mild spice, for more heat up it to a whole serrano pepper)
1/3 cup minced yellow onion
1/4 tsp. mineral salt (Himalayan salt)
2 minced garlic cloves (Add more if you love garlic)
2 tbsp. coconut oil

Instructions for Turkey Patties:

In a large mixing bowl combine all the turkey patties ingredients and mix well with a fork.
Form medium size patties with the ground turkey meat and set aside. (makes about 6 patties)
Heat 2 tbsp. coconut oil in a large cast iron pan on high until oil has melted.
Turn heat down to medium-high and add turkey patties
Cook for 2-3 minutes each side until golden brown on each side.

Ingredients for Lettuce Wrap Sandwiches: (makes 6 servings)

Home-made turkey burger patties (see above)
1 large head of romaine lettuce or two small heads of romaine lettuce
1-2 tomatoes (beef, on-the-vine, or Roma sliced thin)
Mayo (see recipe)
Sautéed red onions in coconut oil (see instructions below)
6 slices of pan-seared pork belly (see instructions below)

Instructions for Pan-Seared Pork Belly and Caramelized Onions:

In a separate pan, pan-sear 6 (4″ strips) of thinly sliced pork belly
Pan-sear each side for about 2-3 minutes each side until pork belly has a nice seared color caramelized color. (add coconut aminos for sweetness and mineral salt for a salty flavor, combined make a savory bacon flavor)
Remove strips and set aside
Drain pork fat from pan (optional) and sauté sliced red onions in small amount of coconut oil (or use a tbsp. of residual pork fat)

Lettuce wrap turkey burgers w/pan-seared pork belly

Combining the pieces to the lettuce wrap is easy! I’ll demonstrate the steps with beautiful pictures!

Take one lettuce leaf and add one turkey burger.
Add sliced tomatoes (I used on-the-vine tomatoes)
Add slice of pan-seared pork belly aka homemade bacon!
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Drizzle some delicious home-made eggcellent mayo or Dijon mustard.
Fold and enjoy! NOM!

I am in love with this sandwich! I don’t need cheese and I don’t care about the bread, the flavors make up for whatever anyone can find it to be lacking!!

Hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as we did!!